• Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch leader threatens Trump and Musk over the Gaza conflict.
• Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki calls for lone-wolf attacks against regional leaders.
• The group's focus on Gaza mirrors attacks from Yemen's Houthis.
• Al-Awlaki, who has a $6M bounty, succeeded Khalid al-Batarfi as leader.
• AQAP is considered one of the most dangerous branches of Al-Qaeda despite recent weakening.

The leader of Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, has issued threats against U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In a half-hour video released online, this marks Al-Awlaki’s first public address since assuming leadership of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in 2024. In the video, he stated, “There are no red lines after what happened and is happening to our people in Gaza. Reciprocity is legitimate,” highlighting his anger over the conflict's toll on Palestinians, which has seen over 54,000 deaths in 20 months according to reports. The video included images of Trump, Musk, and U.S. officials, as well as logos from Musk's companies, notably Tesla, according to India Times, Al Jazeera, and TRT Global.

Al-Awlaki encouraged so-called lone-wolf militants to respond with violence, urging them to target leaders in Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states who support Israel. He asserted a challenge to the dominance of the Houthi rebels within the broader narrative of the Arab and Muslim world's resistance against Israel. The Houthis have also launched missile attacks on Israel as part of their campaign in solidarity with Palestinians, reported India Times and Al Jazeera.

Despite being regarded as weakened by infighting and U.S. drone strikes, AQAP remains a significant threat. The group was previously considered the most dangerous Al-Qaeda affiliate following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, and estimates suggest it has 3,000 to 4,000 active fighters. Al-Awlaki, who has a $6 million bounty on his head, replaced Khalid al-Batarfi, who died in 2024. Observers note that the group's focus on the Israel-Hamas war is an attempt by Al-Awlaki to raise AQAP's profile amidst a shift towards the conflict, as indicated in reports by India Times and Al Jazeera.